RSS 2.0 FeedDecember 21, 2011, City Classics
Music and Dance through December
December wraps up with the final performance of the Kansas City Ballet's "Nutcracker" and Quality Hill Playhouse's "Christmas in Song." A happy holidays to all!
Kansas City Ballet
The Nutcracker
Wednesday, December 21 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 22 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Friday, December 23 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 24 at 1:00 p.m.
Muriel Kauffman Theatre, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
1601 Broadway Blvd, Kansas City, MO
For tickets, call 816-931-2232 or visit online at www.kcballet.org.
As everybody who has not been living on the far side of the moon lately is aware, Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker is the one of the most popular ballet ever written and has been a holiday favorite in Kansas City for many years. The Kansas City Ballet presents one of the most spectacular productions of the ballet in the Midwest. This year you have a chance to see it as you have never seen it before, redesigned for the magnificent new Muriel Kauffman Theatre in the Kauffman Center. There are lots of performances, but tickets always go fast and many will be sold out. Youngsters old and new will appreciate the charm and grace of Tchaikovsky’s ageless score and the choreography of the Ballet’s artistic director, William Whitener, in this exciting new space.
Quality Hill Playhouse
Christmas in Song
Quality Hill Playhouse
Performances through December 24
Quality Hill Playhouse
303 W 10th St Kansas City, MO
For tickets, call 816-421-1700 or visit online at www.qualityhillplayhouse.com.
Kent Barnhart and his troupe at Quality Hill Playhouse produce excellent performances of Broadway and light fare. The theater’s annual Christmas show features vocalists Molly Hammer, Lateesha McDonald Jackson and Lindsey McKee, along with Barnhart himself at the piano. This reviewer enjoyed the performance earlier in the month, and highly recommends it for the light at heart. Prior reservations are a must, as many performances are sold out.
City Classics Music and Dance Columnist; Classical Contributor
A lifelong classical music fan, Don Dagenais is a frequent preview speaker for the Lyric Opera of Kansas City and has taught classical music and opera courses at several Kansas City venues. He has served on the boards of directors of a number of performing arts organizations including the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, the Lyric Opera Guild, UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance, Opera Volunteers International, the Civic Opera Theater of Kansas City, Inspiration Point Fine Arts Colony, Octarium, and the Friends of the Symphony. He has been the past president of most of these organizations and is current the president of the Friends of the Symphony.
Dagenais co-authored a history of the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, published on the occasion of its 50th anniversary (2007) and has written books on the histories of both the Lyric Opera Guild and Opera Volunteers International, as well as an introductory book for opera novices (Your Passport to the Opera). He has received several local and national awards for outstanding volunteer work for the arts, including a lifetime achievement award from The Coterie Theatre in 2000, the Kansas City Musical Club's annual award in 2001, a Partners in Excellence Award from Opera Volunteers International in 2002, a Bravo Award from Opera Volunteers International in 2004 and a community service award from the Daughter of the American Revolution in 2008 honoring him for his community service to the arts.
In addition to his music interests, Don is president of the board of directors for the Metropolitan Ensemble Theater and has served on the boards of The Coterie Theatre and the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, serving as president of each organization. He publishes newsletters for seven arts organizations. When not involved in the performing arts, Don is a senior real estate attorney with Lathrop & Gage LLP in Kansas City, Missouri, where he has practiced law since 1976 after graduating from the Cornell Law School.
All material contained in KCMetropolis.org is the property of or licensed for use by KCMetropolis.org. Any use, duplication, or reproduction of any or all content of this publication is prohibited except with the express written permission of KCMetropolis.org or the original copyright holders.